Maryland grants QB Danny O'Brien release, can transfer to Vandy

Maryland has had a change of heart and will allow three football players to transfer to Vanderbilt, if they wish.

According to USA Today, the school will allow quarterback Danny O’Brien, offensive lineman Max Garcia and linebacker Mario Rowson to make the move.

Last week, the trio announced their decision to transfer from the program and head coach Randy Edsall released them from their scholarship although with restrictions. One of those restrictions was that they couldn’t transfer to Vanderbilt.

Edsall’s move was met with harsh criticism from media who questioned the coaches reason for denying the player’s release.

Placing restrictions on transfers is not uncommon in college sports especially football. Other restrictions on the players releases where no schools that a featured on the Terps ACC schedule as well as upcoming nonconference opponents such as West Virginia and Temple.

O’Brien was considering Vanderbilt because of the connection between former Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin, who is now the head coach of the Commodores. However, NCAA rules forbid any contact from a rival school with a player currently under scholarship.

Franklin denies any tampering charges however the school is considering handling the manner through conference representatives.

O’Brien was coming off a sophomore season that saw him throw for 1,648 yards and seven touchdowns. He struggled with is accuracy and finished with 10 interceptions. He was benched in October in favor of C.J. Brown. During his redshirt freshman season, he threw for 2,438 yards and 22 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. That performance earned him ACC Freshman of the Year honors.

Set to graduate this spring, O’Brien was said to be leaning toward several schools including Wisconsin as well as Vandy. Since he will have already graduated, he can transfer to a school with a graduate program and start playing right away.